Centrifugal gold-extracting machine



J. E. LOGAN CENTRIFUGAL GOLD EXTRAGTING MACHINE lune 29 1926. 1,590,584

Filed Feb. 2, 1925 5 Sheets5het 1 wuemtoz" a4 7 John E.Loyaw,

Wliness: 3% I June 29 1926. 1,590,584

J. E. LOGAN CENTRIFUGAL GOLD EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed Feb; '2, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Joh E.Loga77,

Wi znek il slk I I June 29 1926. v 1,590,584.-

J. E. LOGAN CENTRIFUGAL GOLD EXTRACTING MACHINE Filed Feb- 7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 anoeulioo John E. L ay an Patented dune 29, 1826. I I

STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. LOGAN, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

UNITED cENTnIrUGaL GCLD-EXTRACTING MACHINE.

Application filed February 7, 1925.

My invention relates to .centrifugal gold extracting machines, and one object is to produce a machine of which the this character in process of extracting the precious metals from metalliferous materials willbe continuous, and in which als are separated from the precious met the metalliferous materials in a minimum period of time, to

the end that large ous materials may and economically.

A further object of the invention is to quantities of metalliferbe handled expeditiously provide a machine in which loss of precious metals is overcome, or at minimum by introducing materials into the bottom extracting receptacle and from which the precious extracted over the top of least reduced to a the metalliferous of a centrifugal lifting the sludge metals have been said receptacle by centrifugal conveyers, insteadof permitting the sludge to flow off by the force of gravity as in ordinary practice.

Other features will hereinafter appear,

and in order that the invention understood, reference will accompanying may be fully now be had to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a broken central vertical sectionline II-II of Fig. 1.

of the machine on Fig. 4 is a cross section line IV -IV of Fig. 1.

of the machine on Fig. 5 is an irregular section of a distributor on line VV of Fig. 2.

In carrying out the invention, hopper 2 into which the metalliferous matewater to form a solution,

rial, supplied with I employ a is fed and descends by the force of gravity through a feed tube 4-to a distributor 6,-

the material in its passage to which spreads the lower portion of a rotary bowl-shaped receptacle 8.

The distributor 6 is spaced from and united to the flaring lower end 10 of the feed tube 4 by curved ribs 12, as

shown by Fig The hopper 2. 2, the feed tube 4 and the distributor 6, rotate as a unit and are driven by an axially-disposed threaded at its lower end shaft 14, which is in said distributor 6 and suspended at its upper end from a collar 16'to which it is connected by suitable means such as a transverse p111. 18.

The

shaft 14 is driven by a fixedly-mounted pulley 19 and journaled in b earings 20 and 21,

Serial No. 7,550.

located at the upper portion of a frame 22.

which supports various. parts of the machine, as shown by Fig. 1. The bearing 20, in addition to coacting with the bearing 21 in supporting the shaft 14, also constitutes a step bearing for the collar 16.

The bottom portion 24 of the receptacle 8 is provided with a centrally-disposed depending'boss 26 in whichthe upper endof a drive shaft 28 is fixedly mounted to support and drive said receptacle 8. The drive shaft 28 is arranged in axial alinement with the drive shaft 14 "and driven in a reverse direction thereto by a fixedly mounted pulliy 30. Bearings 32 and 34 are'provided at t e port the drive shaft 28.

The circular wall of the receptacle 8 is provided at its lower portion opposite the distributor 6 with a shallow annular chamber 36 separated from a similar superimposed chamber 38 by an annular flange 40,

which projects inwardly and downwardly to prevent or retard the gold or other precious metal discharged by the distributor 6 from passing with the sludge to the upper portion of the receptacle 8. The upper portion of the chamber 38 is provided with a flange 42, which is similar to and coacts with'the flange 40 in retaining the precious metal in the lower portion of the receptacle 8. Outlets 44 are formed in the bottom of the chamber36 through which the concentrates may be removed from the receptacle 8, said outlets being normally closed by screw plugs 46. The upper portion of the receptacle 8 has an inwardly extending rim 48 provided with a down marginal lip 49 to prevent the material from being thrown out of the top ofsaid receptacle by centrifugal force.

The sludge is lifted over the top of the receptacle 8 and deposited in an annular chute 52 by. a pair of tubularcentrifugal conveyers 50., The chute 52 surrounds the receptaclev 8 and is supported by arms '53 on the frame. 22 and has an inclined bottom 54 leading to a spout 56 which discharges the sludge (in the dump. As disclosed by Figs. 2 and i -the conveyers 50 are of peculiar shape, they being curvedin vertical and horizontal plane's'to bring their respective inlets 57 down into the receptacle 8 to take up the sludge, and" their outlets '58 into the chute lower portion of the frame 22 to supand 'outturned 52 in a reverse position to the direction of sludge against the interior of said chute 52. Each conveyer is provided at opposite sides of its forward portion withfenders 60, so that as said forward portion travels in a circle through the sludge the same will be prevented from splashing upwardly by said fenders 60. Each conveyor-50 is also provided with a backwardly inclined arm 62 bolted to the outer fender 60 and provided with a plurality of forwardly inclined trimming devices, preferably, .in the form of blades 64.

' The conveyers 50 are connected to the extension hub 66 of a drive pulley 68 by arms 70. Said hub 66 is mounted in a ball bearing 71 carried by a yoke 72'secured to brackets 74 on opposite sides of the frame 22. The

pulley 68 drives the conveyers 5O clockwise and in a reverse direction to the receptacle 8. y

A loose sleeve 75 is interposed between the feed tube 4 and the hub 66 to prevent said feed tube from vibrating and to hold it in concentric relation with the hub 66, said sleeve 75 being supported by a collar 76 fixed to the tube 4. Material spilt over the upper edge of the hopper 2 is prevented from flowing down the exterior thereof and entering the open top of the drive pulley 68 and damaging the sleeve 7 5- and associate parts,

by a tubular shield 77 "secured to said hopper 2 by brackets 78.

In practice the gold bearing material is passed in a screened, pulverized, crushed, or pulp condition into the hopper 2 with sufficient water to form a solution which will pass freelythrough the 'machine without clogging. The material flows from the hopper 2, through the feed tube 4 by the fo 'rce of gravity aided by the rotary action of said feed-tube 4 and the drive shaft 14. The material is directed by the feed tube 4 to the distributor 6 located in the lower portion of the receptacle 8, and the material is spread in a thin sheet as it passes over said dis tributor 6 from which it is discharged by centrifugal force into the lower portion of the receptacle 8, where the heavier along with someof the lighter particles of gold are entrapped in the chambers 36 and 38, while the remainder of the lighter particles ascend with the material along the inner surface of the circular wall'of the receptacle 8 until checked by the rim 48. The ascending wall of material increases in thickness until it contacts with the blades 64, which, extending aslant downwardly and backwardly as shown by Fig. 3, throw the'contacting material into the lower portion of the receptacle 8 where more of the particles of gold are 'thrown bycentrifugal force into the chambers36 and 38. As the material accumulates in the receptacle 8 it is formed by centrifugal force into a vortex in which the gold finds its way 1 to the chambers 36,38, and the interior surface of the circular wall of the receptacle 8,

' certain level is taken up by the rotary conveyers 50, the inlets 57 of which are arranged close to said feed tube 4 and out of the zone of the gold-bearing material. As the conveyers 50carry off the sludge as fast as the gold-bearing material enters the receptacle8, a substantially constant level is maintainedand danger of an overflow is obviated, enabling constant operation of the machine as long as desired. When the machine is stopped the plugs 46 are removed and the concentrates are washed through the outlets 44. When desired an amalagamating agent, such as mercury may be placed in the chamber 36'to facilitate the segregation of the precious inetal from the material.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be understood that there is no overflow of tailings from the receptacle 8 with-consequent loss of precious metal as in common practice, but on the contrary the material from which the previous metal has been extracted is lifted from said receptacle 8 by the conveyers '50, the inlets 57- of which are spaced a considerable distance from the chambers 36 and 38 in which the concentrates are accumulated by the force of gravity aided by cen trifugal force.

It will also be understood that Iliave pro vided a machine having maximum capacity with little or no loss'of precious-metal, and while I- have shown and described the pre- 100 ferred construction, combination and ar rangement of parts, I reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope. of the invention asclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut is: i i

1 A machine of the character described consisting bf a centrifugal receptacle, and a centrifugal conveyer extending over the top of the receptacle and having its forward end arranged interiorly and its rear endexteriorly of said receptacle.

2. A machine of the character described consisting of a receptacle,-and a centrifugal tubular conveyer extending over the top of the receptacle and having .its inlet end arranged interiorly and its outlet end exteriorly of said receptacle.

3. A machine of the character described consisting of a receptacle, a centrifugal conveyer extending overthe. top of the receptacle and having its forward end arranged interiorly and its rear end exteriorly of said 135 receptacle, and fenders fixed to said conveyer at. opposite sides of its forward portion. i

4. A machine of the character described consisting of a circular receptacle, a cen- 130 a centrifugal receptacle,

ing. into said receptacle,

end spaced above the trifugal conveyer extending over the top of the receptacle and having its forward end arranged interiorly and its rear end exteriorly of said receptacle, and a trimming device mounted on said a short distance from the interior surface of the receptacle.

5. A machine of the character described consisting of a circular receptacle, a centrifugal conveyer extending overthe top of the receptacle and having its*forward end arranged interiorly and its rear end exteriorly of said receptacle, an arm secured to the forward portion of said conveyor, and blades carried by said arm and spaced a short distance from the interior surface of the receptacle.

6. A machine of the character described consisting of a centrifugal receptacle, a pair of oppo'sitelydisposed conveyers extending over the top of the receptacle and having their forward ends arranged interiorly and their rear ends exteriorly of said receptacle, and mechanism for driving the conveyers and said receptacle in reverse directions.

7. A machine of the character described consisting of a receptacle, a centrifugal conveyer mounted independently of and extending over the top of'the receptacle and having its forward end arranged interiorly and its'rear' end exteriorly of said receptacle, and a chute into which said conveyor discharges.

8. A machine of the character described consisting of sitely disposed centrifugal conveyers mounted independently of and extending over the top of the receptacle and having their forward ends arranged interiorly and their rear ends exteriorly of said receptacle, and an annular chute surrounding said receptacle and into which said conveyers discharge.

9. In a machine of the character described,

a feed tube extenda distributor arranged within the receptacle and at the lower portion of said feed tube, and means for driving said receptacle and the feed tube in reverse directions to each other.

10. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle, a distributor located in said receptacle and provided at its upper ortion with ribs, a feed tube extending into said receptacle and having a flaring lower end spaced above the distributor and fixed to said ribs, and mechanism for rotating the receptacle and the distributor in reverse directions to each other.

311. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle, a distributor located in said receptacle and provided at its upper portion with ribs, a fee'd tube extending into said receptacle and having a flaring lower distributor and fixed conveyor and spaced scribed, a feed tube a centrifugal receptacle, o p0-- to said ribs, a hopper at the upper end of said feed tube, a=shaft extending axially through the feed tube and fixed to said distributor, and means for driving said shaft and the receptacle in reverse directions to each other.

12. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle, a shaft upon which said receptacle is mounted, a support for said shaft, means for driving said shaft, a conveyer leading from said receptacle, a drive pulley upon which said conveyor is mounted, and a support for said pulley.

13. In a machine of the character deend, a distributor spaced below said flaring lower end, and curved ribs interposed between and connecting said flaring end and said distributor.

14. In a machine of the character described, a feed tube having a flaring lower end, a distributor spaced below said flaring lower end, curved ribs interposed between and connecting said flaring end and said distributor, a drive shaft extending axially through said feed tube and connected to said distributor, and a support for said drive shaft.

15. In a machine of the character described, a pair of oppositely-disposed tubular conveyors, and a centrally-disposed rotary member to which said conveyers are firmly secured.

16. A machine of the character described consisting of a support, a receptacle havinga closed bottom, a drive shaft journaled in said support and fixed to the bottom of said receptacle, a pair of oppositely-disposed conveyers extending over the top of the receptacle and having their forward ends arranged interiorly and their rear ends exteriorly of said conveyer, a drive pulley journaled in the support and to which said conveyers are fixed, an annular chute sur rounding the receptacle andinto which the conveyors are adapted to discharge material taken from said receptacle, a feed tube leading axially into the receptacle, a distributor connected to and disposed beneath said fee-d tube, and a drive shaft ournaled in the support and extending axially through the feed tube and fixed to said distributor.

17. In a machine of the character described, abowl-shaped receptacle having a closed bottom and provided at its upper margin with an internal rim provided at its inner margin with a downwardly and outwardly projecting lip, superimposed annular cham ers in the lower portion of said receptacle, and inwardly and downwardly rojecting flanges surmounting sald chamers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- JOHN E. LOGAN.

lot 

